Illinois woman faces federal charges for approaching grizzly bear

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CAROL STREAM, Illinois – An Illinois woman has been accused of being too close to a grizzly bear after Yellowstone National Park authorities said she was caught on video approaching a bear and her cubs.

Carol Stream resident Samantha Deering, 25, has been charged in US District Court with breaching federal laws that prohibit “violating closure and use restrictions” and “intentionally feeding, touching, teasing, intimidating or disturbing wildlife.” , according to court records. Dearing is scheduled to appear in court in Mammoth Hot Springs on August 26.

Authorities began searching for the woman after she was captured on video May 10 near the north end of the Roaring Mountain parking lot. The video shows Deering approaching a grizzly mother and two cubs, causing the bear to attack the woman. Then I walked away from the bear.

Officials said Dearing was only 15 feet from the bear.

Park regulations require visitors to stay at least 300 feet away from bears and wolves.

Park Rangers asked the public to help identify the woman by sharing the video on Yellowstone’s social media channels. Investigators said an anonymous tip led them to Dearing.

And the Billings Gazette reported that investigators were able to track Deering through social networking sites, where she posted pictures of the bears on Facebook, and commented on the photo, “I was completely impressed by the beauty of this place.”

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